Stage migration of testicular germ cell tumours in Alberta, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

An absence of screening recommendations and the rapid progression of testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) offer a perspective on the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer presentations. We evaluated the presenting cancer stages of TGCTs in a real-world population before and during the pandemic to assess stage migration.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of all new patients with TGCT diagnoses in Alberta, Canada, from Dec. 31, 2018, to Apr. 30, 2021, using the Alberta Cancer Registry. Because potential changes in staging should not occur instantaneously, we used a 6-month lag time from Apr. 1, 2020, for seminomas, and a 3-month lag time for nonseminomas, to compare initial cancer stages at presentation before and during the pandemic. We eval

SUBMITTER: Lee-Ying R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9262347 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul-Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature